Mirow (Germany) is the birthplace of the English Queen Charlotte. Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III., was born as Princess Sophia Charlotte on 19th may 1744 in the Lower castle. She died on 17th november 1818 in Kew Palace. Sophia Charlottes father, Karl „Prince of Mirow, was the younger half brother of Duke Adolf Friedrich III. Sophia Charlotte´s mother, Elisabeth Albertine, was a born Princess of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. On her deathbed she arranged the wedding for her daughter. 

Sophia Charlotte had six siblings. Duke Adolf Friedrich IV. and Carl, father of the later Prussian Queen Louise, counts among these. Charlotte enjoyed a comprehensive education. She spoke several languages, was talented in music and interested in science.

On August 15, 1761, the marriage contract was signed. On August 17, 1761, Charlotte left her home for good. It is told, while the crossing to England with Charlottes travel companions seasick, she practiced „God save the king“ on her harpsichord. On September 8, Charlotte arrived at St. James-Palace. On the same evening the wedding with Georg III. took place. On September 22, 1761, the 17year old Charlotte and her 23 year old husband were crowned king and queen.

In August 1762 the successor to the throne was born. Charlotte and George III. had 15 children. The marriage was considered to be a happy one. The couple better lived in the rural countryside then in London. George III. bought Buckingham Palace.

The King being married to a German princess from Mirow, Great Britain showed some interest in Mecklenburg-Strelitz. This resulted in the travelogues by Thomas Nugent; still a miraculous source for impressions of the former life. 

Sophia Charlottes birthplace burned down and was rebuilt. Whether there is some of her birthplace left in the reconstructed place is a question that will hopefully be detected through research. The Residenzschlossverein has his share in this research.

Friederike Drinkuth, art historian at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Palace Department, and Frank Pergande, member of the Residenzschlossverein, inspired by a letter from Sophia Charlotte to the Prussian king, Frederick the Great, wrote a play “God Save The Queen”. It is about a fictional meeting between Charlotte and Frederick the Great. „God Save The Queen“ will be first performed on August 26, 2011, in Mirow. A performance in Schwerin is planned for the end of the year in front of a painting from Queen Charlotte (see above).

The painting shows Queen Charlotte, painted 1781 by Thomas Gainsborough. Published by courtesy of Staatliches Museum Schwerin.